Is it possible to do summer research at different school?

[XRanger]

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I'm going to a med school that is far away from my family, and in the summer I'm planning to go back to visit my family. I'm just wondering if I can also do a summer research at a med school nearby. Is it possible or do most medical schools only take their own students for summer research?

 

[pingouin]

That's what I'm doing right now.

I have a specific specialty interest and at my school, that department wasn't doing any research. However, a school in the city where I'd lived/worked for 15 years prior to med school is doing a lot of research in that area. I emailed a PI who I'd known through work, and he was able to find a spot for me on his study for 8 weeks. He also offered to give my CV to other PIs if I didn't want to do what he's working on.

So if you have any strings for research, I'd try to pull them. If you don't, just email some faculty members in your area of interest from that school and see what response you get. Perhaps see whether anyone at your own school has a contact there that can help grease the wheels? If you're not committed to research, start looking early at things like summer clinical externships with AHEC (rural) or American College of Physicians (IM) where you can kind of choose where you'll do your 4-8 weeks.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

I go to GA-PCOM, and I am spending my summer doing research at Emory. In fact, I am the "lead" medical student on this project, and it is pretty cutting-edge stuff.

Basically, if you're willing to work your ass off, which is what I am doing, then there will be someone who will be willing to put you to work. At least that's been my experience.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

Also, while I'm putting in a ton of hours, and making less money than I've ever made at any job since high school, I am having a blast. This stuff is way more fun than lab research. A lot of tedious work, like making copies, printing stuff, etc., but also a lot of interaction with patients, and the physicians. I'm doing some pretty cool stuff, and learning a lot. My only regret is that I have a 30 mile commute to Grady every day, so I can't spend more time there.

 

[RxnMan]

I'm going to a med school that is far away from my family, and in the summer I'm planning to go back to visit my family. I'm just wondering if I can also do a summer research at a med school nearby...

Yes you can. Take a look at the Research FAQ (link in my sig) an you'll find many medically-related research opportunities for students. Many of these are national, i.e., students from many universities can apply for them. Something to explore is if you are able to obtain funding from your school and whether you can take it to another institution.

 

[XRanger]

thanks. RxnMan, I looked at the research lists from your FAQs and they are very helpful, but i have another question:
Since med school have different start/end date, do we just choose when we want to start and finish?? I looked at several programs that interest me and they all don't have the date, they just say 6-10 weeks.
and how competitive do these programs generally are?

 

[OpalOnyx]

Instead of posting a new thread, I'll tag along with this one.... Another question - when should people start emailing potential PIs for work in the summer (May/June)? Is Jan/Feb too early...?

 

[RxnMan]

Instead of posting a new thread, I'll tag along with this one.... Another question - when should people start emailing potential PIs for work in the summer (May/June)? Is Jan/Feb too early...?

Depends on if you're going for a summer research program (check the specific deadline) or if you're going for something competitive. If you plan to set something up in a non-competitive lab, I'd still start a few months in advance to find which lab is the best fit and to give yourself some lead time. Frequently you'll be doing a lot of reading to get up to speed with what the lab does, and that's time better spent before the summer starts, as lab time is valuable.

 

[OpalOnyx]

Depends on if you're going for a summer research program (check the specific deadline) or if you're going for something competitive. If you plan to set something up in a non-competitive lab, I'd still start a few months in advance to find which lab is the best fit and to give yourself some lead time. Frequently you'll be doing a lot of reading to get up to speed with what the lab does, and that's time better spent before the summer starts, as lab time is valuable.

Thanks, that's quite helpful. I appreciate it!

 

[justdoit31]

I am an MSI at Texas Tech but will be doing my research at Emory (CHOA)in June/July. The researcher who is organizing the project is a physician I shadowed in undergrad. We actually discussed the project last spring but didn't sit down to do any paperwork until I was home over Christmas break.

 

[brickandlace]

I am an MSI at Texas Tech but will be doing my research at Emory (CHOA)in June/July. The researcher who is organizing the project is a physician I shadowed in undergrad. We actually discussed the project last spring but didn't sit down to do any paperwork until I was home over Christmas break.

Congrats, sounds like a great opportunity.

 

[OpalOnyx]

I'm going to pose another question... At what point does someone have enough background to get involved with clinical research, chart reviews, etc? Also, are students expected to have a strong background in statistics going in?

 

[justdoit31]

I'm going to pose another question... At what point does someone have enough background to get involved with clinical research, chart reviews, etc? Also, are students expected to have a strong background in statistics going in?

We already had biostatistics at TTUHSC during our first semester- I also had biostat in undergrad. As far as clinical research, chart reviews are concerned that is one thing we are still working on. I need to get access to chart reviews so we are working to figure out how to gain access (usually only visiting MSIV get those passwords)... but I am trusting it will work out alright since we have plenty of time to plan it all.

 

[RxnMan]

I'm going to pose another question... At what point does someone have enough background to get involved with clinical research, chart reviews, etc? Also, are students expected to have a strong background in statistics going in?

Most of the time, as a med student doing research for the first time, you will be essentially be smart, but unskilled labor (that's ok, you and I and everyone has to start somewhere). You likely won't need to understand stats that much, and you will learn the relevant aspects on the job. You'll probably be doing mostly data collection, some analysis, maybe some writing.

Of course, the more stats you know, the better, but don't stress. Being smart, hard working, and interested is what most researchers expect at this level.

 

[OpalOnyx]

Thanks for your input guys 🙂 Helpful and encouraging.

 

[Dral]

Heck, if I were a PD, I may even view it as an advantage as it shows you had initiative to seek out an experience instead of just possibly selecting some project from a list of research opportunities given to you by your school.

 

[RxnMan]

Heck, if I were a PD, I may even view it as an advantage as it shows you had initiative to seek out an experience instead of just possibly selecting some project from a list of research opportunities given to you by your school.

I'd say this is a weak positive at best, far less important than finding a place where you can be productive (i.e. getting a pub or poster), where you can form positive learning relationships with mentors, and get an idea of how to do research.

My PD gets daily requests from people wanting to work with him, and the MD/PhD from France gets as much notice as the intensivist from Brazil as the HS student from Baltimore.

 

[johncalvin]

I'd say this is a weak positive at best, far less important than finding a place where you can be productive (i.e. getting a pub or poster), where you can form positive learning relationships with mentors, and get an idea of how to do research.

My PD gets daily requests from people wanting to work with him, and the MD/PhD from France gets as much notice as the intensivist from Brazil as the HS student from Baltimore.

What's a good way to figure out if a potential lab is productive? I like to look at recent publications, but it's hard to tell if any medical students' names are listed as authors.

The only thing worse than being at an "unproductive" lab is being at a productive lab that delegates its students to the "Acknowledgments" section.

Any thoughts?

 

[RxnMan]

Talk to people in the lab or better still, those who have just left (since they are gone, you might get a more honest answer). Ask questions like what did they do for their last med student, how long where they there and what did they publish, what's their contact info, and so on.